ECN101 Economics for Environment and Development

The course is an introductory course in economics, with special emphasis on development, environmental and natural resource economics, policy analysis with emphasis on environmental issues and sustainable development.

Issues and concepts discussed in the course include inequality, technology, population, growth, scarcity and choice, social interactions, game theory, mutual gains and conflict, firms, supply and demand, markets and market failure, economic efficiency and public policy, external effects, renewable and non-renewable resources, climate change, cost benefit analysis, sustainable development.

Knowledge:

• Have basic knowledge of economic issues, such as inequality, technology, development, growth, scarcity and allocation, trade-offs, social dilemmas, climate change and other environmental pressures, sustainable development
• Can apply knowledge in modelling choice of economic agents, game theory, gains from trade, firms, supply and demand in markets, market failure and correction, efficiency, fairness, government policy, economics of renewable and non-renewable resources, cost benefit analysis
• Understand terminology in economics. This includes knowledge on the use and limitations of different economic models and concepts.

Skills:

• Can explain and use simple economic models
• Can trace economic arguments and critically evaluate policies in environment and development
• Can suggest and discuss policy solutions to economic issues on a general level

General competence:

• Can communicate core concepts and methods in economics to others
• Can use economics to explain global challenges
• Can use their economics knowledge and skills for questions around sustainable development